The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-02-10
manitomoe pilot.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1887.
THE WATER MARKED WILL.

| " len DQlllIe Aduueu IdhOliIt
sister Mabel died, the only legacy
she left him was her little son Gilbert
! Marshall. whom the Squire immediate
| " took home to Hazlehurst and
brought up as his own, lavishing OIL
him all the love and pride of a heart
hungering for affection; for the Squire
himself was worse than childless.
He had a son, James; but the boy
always wild and reckless, had grown
into dissipated man, and was lead
ing a criminal life in a neighboring
city. Mr.. Madden used every effort
10 induce his son to become useful
member of society, but without avail
and at last, in despair. he had been
| compelled to cast him off. refusing all
| communication with him.
The Squire'5 family consisted of
himself, a maiden sister, Gilbert Mar
shall and Ida Warner. Ida was the
daughter of an old schoolmate of the
'Squire's. who died when she was IS.
leaving her and her independent for
tune in Squire Madden's care.
1t was not strange that Gilbert and
Ida, thrown together as they were,
should have soon developed a decided
liking for each other; or. as the years
went on, that Gilbert's blue eyes. look
ing into Ida's brown ones. should see
there something more than friendship,
something that led him one sweet
June evening to tell her how dear she
was to him Then he went to the
Squire and repeated the story, and he,
as his eyes shone with happy tears,
transferred to Gilbert's care for life
his Win5ome ward.
The Squire'5 JOY, however, was des-
tined to be very brief, for the young
folks had only been engaged a few
weeks when he was attacked with ty-
phoid fever, and after a short illness
died.
In a lucid interval on the day of his
death the Squire asked Gilbert to
send for his son. This was immedi
lately done; the frequent letters which
the Squire received from him. beg
ging for money, furnished his address.
James Madden fastened to Halle
hurst IN response to the telegram, only
to find that death had preceded
him
On the day after the Squire had
Ebeen laid to rest Mr.. Laird suggested
tnat the Will be found and read
It's IN Uncle's desk" said Gilbert,
sealed up in a yellow envelope"
As all the probable heirs are here. .
replied Mr.. Laird, please go and
bring it,
I'm thinking there's not much in
that document for me-" remarked
James Madden, who was still at Halle
hurst
I'VE shall see" answered Mr. Laird,
| pleasantly.
Just then Gilbert entered with the
will in his hand. This is very
strange" he said See. the envelope
has been torn off, but [ am sure uncle
sealed it up himself and indorsed it.
Last will and testment of William
Madden I've often seen it, and /
don't understand how it comes to be
| open now"
aren't you the only one who has a
key to this desk ?" asked james Mad
den. with a sinister look.
Il think I am" replied Gilbert.
perhaps the Squire opened it him
self to add a codicil," interposed Mr..
Laird; at all events, let us read it."
The document was found to leave
the entire estate to the decedent' 5
nephew. Gilbert Marshall, with the
exception OF an income of a thousand
dollars each to his dear sister and
ward. No mention Whatever was
made of his son. James, who, when
the lawyer had finished reading, arose
and LETT the room without a word.
He had been gone out half an hour,
when an officers arrival. bringing a
walTent for the arrest of Gilbert Mar
shall threw the group into the deepest
CONSERVATION.
''What for?" demanded Mr.. Laird
in establishment.
He IS charged with the forgery of
his uncle's will" was the reply
Gilbert was carried before a magis
rrate, but he had no difficulty in i'm
mediately securing bail
When the September term OF court
opened, the whole town was excited
over the forgery case, and when it
was called the courtroom was packed
with people. ever one Of whom, with
the exception Of James Madden and
his little coterie OF friends and law
yers, believed Gilbert would soon walk
forth q free and indicated man.
Gilbert Marshall, when asked to
plead to the charge Of forgery, answer
ed in q strong. clear voice:
Not guilty"
The attorney for the commonwealth
then arose and said
May It please the Court, the com
m0nwealth does not intend TO present
| a large mass of evidence or call many
witnesses. [ hold in my hand evi-
dence sufficient to convict the prison
er, Gilbert Marshall. of the crime Of
| forgery evidence. the nature of which
he little dreams-evidence. as convinc-
ing and satisfactory as the most exact
iug jury could require"
The audience listened patiently for
the lawyers next words, as he con-
tinued:
This Is the will-the forged will.
BY its provisions all the property of
the late Squire Madden is given to
Gilbert Marshall, with the exception
Of two minor annuities. There is no
mention made of the testator's son,
William. Now, it is improbable that
the Squire should completely overlook
his only child and bestow the bulk of
his yasJ wealth on a man who, while
he en'nyy confidential relation with
the squire. VS. after all, only a nep-
hew. Again, if thi.e will is forgery,
who can he the forger hut Gilbert
Marshall? No one knew Of it, or had
access to it, save the one man whom
alone it benefits, and that man must
be Gilbert Marshall
Il will now prove by the will itself
that it is a forgery. 1t is customary
with some paper manufacturers to
nlaca 11In.0U their Manor tho vpor IN